Olhasque Nets Hat Trick in Lose

Box Score

Apr. 20, 2010

Warriors Finish First Season 2-12

Despite a stellar 4 point effort from senior midfielder Michka Olhasque (3 g, 1 a) and a phenomenal 25 save performance from goalie Christian Tilley, the Black and Red fell to Northern Durham at James Armstrong Stadium on the Knights’ senior night.  The game was the last of the year for the Warriors, who finish their inaugural season with a 2-12 record, while the win was senior night for Northern and is the program’s first senior night victory ever.

The Knights got the scoring off early and scored 5 in the first quarter, but junior attacker Matt Knott would take an assist from Michka Olhasque off of a face-off win and drop the bomb on junior Northern goalie AJ Morrissey for the Warrior’s first goal of the night.  It wouldn’t be the last time Olhasque was involved in scoring, as he would score three goals for the second hat trick in Webb history, coming at 8:57 and 7:36 of the second quarter and 9:16 of the fourth.

The second quarter was all Webb.  The Warriors would score twice (Olhasque both times) in the second quarter while the defense would stand tall and allow only one goal.  The defensive strategy of the night was no secret: lock off Northern’s best players, juniors Jonathan Williams and Mike Rice and senior midfielder Alex Bock, a 2009 PAC-VI First Team honoree.  This strategy was employed by the defensive duo of Zach Barnes and Holden Jones on the attackers (Williams and Rice), and freshman long stick midfielder Rufus Terry would shut down Bock on the night, allowing the talented senior only 1 goal, while Barnes and Jones would continuously force Rice and Williams into many wide and high shots.  When Northern’s attackers were able to get past “the cousins” (Barnes and Jones), freshman goalie Christian Tilley was up to the task, making several point blank saves, while “The Terminator”, junior defender Tyler Eller, was on the legal war path tonight, leveling everyone near the crease and taking shots (with only one penalty, a holding penalty).

The second half was all Northern, as the Knights would score 9 of their 15 goals in the third and fourth quarters.  The Warriors would see a scoring hiatus from the 7:36 minute mark of the second quarter to the 9:16 minute mark of the 4th quarter.  When the Warriors were able to get a goal, it was Olhasque doing the honors, scoring his third goal on the night and registering just the second hat trick in school history.  Towards the end of the fourth quarter, freshman attacker Jon Greene would score his first goal of his career, taking an assist from Omari Powell, the first point of his young career as well.

Here is what Coach Farabee had to say: “What a great game with which to end our season!  Northern Durham is a solid program with some talented offensive players, and I thought our close defense was as tight as I have seen them all year.  We made the Northern Durham team work extremely hard for their points, and Zach (Barnes) and Holden (Jones) were playing exceptional tonight.  Who can forget Tyler and Rufus for their play as well.  Tyler was absolutely crushing people tonight, and Rufus held one of the best players in the conference to just one goal.  There was a period during the late third and early fourth quarter when they simply couldn’t score due to our defense and the play of our goalie, Christian Tilley.  Offensively, we continue to make positive strides and got the type of movement and shots that have eluded us thus far.  It was also exciting to see a freshman, Jonathan Greene, step, have the courage to let it fly, and score his first goal, which came off the first career assist and point for another freshman, Omari Powell.  I am extremely proud of the improvement we have made this season, and this game gives us enormous momentum moving into the offseason.”

Despite the defensive pressure on the night, Jonathan Williams was able to score an impressive 7 goals on the night, to go with 4 from Mike Rice.  Christian Tilley made 25 saves in net for the Warriors, bringing his save total on the season to 227, good for saving .594 of his shots.  The Warriors won 14 of 24 face-offs, with senior Cam Fuller, Olhasque, and ‘Dozer Williams doing the honors.  Webb also won the ground ball battle 28-25.  The Warriors season is complete, while the Knights face Riverside on Thursday at Riverside.